Apparatus for producing a rocking motion

ABSTRACT

The apparatus comprises a plurality of rods and levers and springs interconnected by a cable so that a crib or the like, moved by hand initially, causes the apparatus to apply a force to the surface on which the apparatus is mounted to cause the rocking motion to continue.

United States Patent Silverglate APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A ROCKINGMOTION inventor: Jack Silverglate, 6 Roanoke St., Woodbridge, NJ. 07095Filed: Jan. 14, 1971 Appl. No.: 106,418

u.s. c1 ..5/105, 5/108, 272/56, 297/260 1m. 01. ..A47d 9/02, A47d 13/10,Am 3/02 Field oiSearch .5193, 101, 10s, 108, 109;

[ 1 Feb. 1, 1972 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,590,9204/1952 Beegle ..5/ I09 X 2,645,790 7/1953 Hayes ..5/ l 09 2,793,3755/1957 Wardell, .lr. ..5/ l05 3,195,951 7/ I965 Palmer ..297/260 PrimaryExaminer-CasmirA. Nunberg Attorney-Robert A. Green 571 p ABSTRACT Theapparatus comprises a plurality of rods and levers and springsinterconnected by a cable so that a crib or the like, movedby handinitially, causes the apparatus to apply a force to the surface on whichthe apparatus is mounted to cause the rocking motion to continue.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTED FEBI' 1912 3.638.248

IN v/.5N'/ 014 f JACK SILVERGLATE ATTORN EV APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING AROCKING MOTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relatesparticularly to apparatus for rocking baby cribs or the like. Apparatusof this type is known in the art; however, all such known apparatusincludes motors or hand-operated cranks, the former being relativelyexpensive, and the latter requiring constant manipulation by anoperator. The present invention is simple, inexpensive, and in generaldoes not require manipulation by an operator.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of acrib embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the apparatus of the inventionas contained in the crib of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of a portion of the crib shown inFIG. 1 illustrating the double inclusion of the apparatus shown in FIG.2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The apparatus of the inventionis useful for imparting motion and, particularly, for producing arocking motion to apparatus such as baby cribs, doll cribs, or the like.Referring to FIG. 1 wherein a crib-rocking embodiment of the inventionis shown, a typical crib includes two pairs of legs and 40, each ofwhich is secured to a plate which has a curved lower surface which restson the floor and which imparts the rocking motion of the crib. Theapparatus of the invention 10 is mounted in suitable apertures in eachof the plates.

The apparatus of the invention includes a first rod or arm pivotallymounted near its inner end about a pivot pin 90, and its leading endprojects a short distance beneath the curved surface of .the plate sothat it can contact the floor. A cord or cable I10 is secured to theinner end of the rod 80, and this cord extends to and over a pulley orwheel inside the plate 50 and then to a second wheel near the curvedsurface but spaced a distance from the rod 80. A helical spring ismounted within a recess in the plate adjacent to the wheel I40, and itis held within the recess by a suitable spring suitably secured to theplate at the rear wall of the recess. The cord 110 is suitably connectedto the upper inner end of the spring I50.

An arm or plate is mounted so that it is slidable with respect to theopen end of the chamber 160, and it is springbiased by a spring in adirection so that it tends to block the open end of the chamber, and itholds the spring 150 within the chamber. The rear end-of the plate 180is pivotally secured to an arm or rod 200 which itself is pivoted nearits midpoint about a pin 210 secured to the plate 50. The connection ofplate 180 to arm 200 is sufiiciently loose to permit plate 180 tooperate as required and as described below. The remote end of the arm200 is coupled to a rod or arm 220, and it carries a pin 222 which ridesin a slot 230 in therod 220. The rod 220 is suitably mounted within theplate 50 so that it is oriented generally perpendicular to the curvedsurface of the plate, projecting slightly beyond this curved surface,and vertically slidable within the plate. This arm is also springbiasedby a spring 240 so that it tends to project from the plate toward thefloor.

In operation of the invention, the operator initially pushes the crib sothat the arm or rod 80 is brought into contact with the floor. Thepressure thus exerted on the free end of the arm causes the arm torotate clockwise around the pivot pin 90, and this applies such force tothe cord that the spring 150 is pulled downwardly and is thus compressedagainst the plate I80 which is in position, blocking the spring. As thecrib continues to move due to the initially applied force, the arm 220strikes the floor, and it is pushed inwardly, and this causes the rod200 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction about the pivot pin 210.This motion pulls the plate 180 away from the spring and permits thespring to eject and push against the floor'and exert a force whichcauses the plate 50 and the crib now to move in the opposite direction.At the same time, the spring 150 flies back into its recess, and thespring-biased plate 180 moves back in front of the spring to hold it inthe recess. At the same time, the return movement of the spring returnsthe cable and rod 80 to its starting position.

The motion thus imparted may be sufficient to cause the crib tooscillate in the opposite direction and then to return to cause theapparatus of the invention to operate again. If desired, however, theabove-described apparatus may also be provided in the plate suitablypositioned to operate when the crib oscillates to the right, asrepresented in FIG. 3. Only portions of arms 100 and 220 are shown inFIG. 3. Thus, a driving force can be applied as the crib rocks first inone direction and then in the other. It is expected that the crib willcontinue to oscillate by itself for some time, after which it would bemanually started again. In addition, the driving apparatus may beincluded in both plates 50 as illustrated in FIG. I.

The principles of the invention have been described in general terms,and it will be understood that those skilledin the art will be able toreadily adjust the various rods, arms, slots, pivot points, and supportsfor all parts to achieve the desired and described mode of operation.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for imparting a rocking motion comprising a support memberadapted to be placed on a floor and having a curved surface whichproduces 'a rocking motion as it moves back and forth on the floor,

a first arm pivotally secured to said support member about a pivot pointand having one end extending beyond said curved surface of said supportmember so that it can contact said fioor whenan initial rocking motionis imparted to said support member,

a spring secured to said support member and adapted to move in and outof said support member and having a free end which can contact saidfloor as the spring moves out of said support member,

a cable secured to an inner portion of said first arm and extending overa plurality of pulley wheels to the inner end of said spring,

rotation of said first arm applying a force to said cable in a firstdirection tending to pull said spring out of said support member,

a slidable plate engaging said free end of said spring and spring-biasedin a direction .to block said spring and to retain it inside saidsupport member, said plate being connected at one end to a second armwhich is pivotally secured to said support member, the other end of saidsecond arm slidably engaging a third arm mounted within said supportmember and having a free end positioned to contact-the floor, contactingof said third arm with said floor causing. rotation of said third armand said second arm and sliding of said plate out of contact with saidspring whereby said spring can be ejected from said support member andcan contact said floor and thereby impart a force to said support memberwhich tends to rock it in a direction opposite to said initial rockingmotion,

whereby said spring moves back into said support member and saidspring-biased slidable plate returns to hold said spring within saidsupport member, the return of said spring moving said cable in adirection opposite to said first direction whereby said first arm isreturned to its starting position.

2. The apparatus defined in claim I wherein said third arm is positionedbetween said first arm and said spring.

3. The apparatus defined in claim I wherein said support member has avertical axis, and said first arm, said spring, said cable, saidslidable plate, said second arm, and said third arm are disposed on oneside of said vertical axis.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 3 and having a duplicate of the partsof said apparatus including said first arm, said spring, said cable, andsaid second and third arms disposed on the other side of said verticalaxis whereby a force can be applied to said support member when saidsupport member rocks in two directions.

5. A crib device including a portion for supporting a body,

front and rear support members each having a curved surface forsupporting the crib on a floor and for imparting a rocking motionthereto, and

mechanical means disposed within at least one support member forimparting a rocking motion thereto,

said mechanical means including a first arm pivotally secured to saidone support member about a pivot point and having one end extendingbeyond said curved surface of said support member so that it can contactsaid floor when an initial rocking motion is imparted to said onesupport member,

a spring secured to said one support member and adapted to move in andout of said one support member and having a free end which can contactsaid floor as the spring moves out of said one support member,

a cable secured to an inner portion of said first arm and extending overa plurality of pulley wheels to the inner end of said spring,

rotation of said first arm applying a force to said cable in a firstdirection tending to pull said spring out of said one support member,

a slidable plate engaging said free end of said spring and spring-biasedin a direction to block said spring and to retain it inside said onesupport member, said plate being connected at one end to a second armwhich is pivotally secured to said one support member, the other end ofsaid second arm slidably engaging a third arm mounted within said onesupport member and having a free end positioned to contact the floor,contacting of said third arm with said floor causing rotation of saidthird arm and said second arm and sliding of said plate out of contactwith said spring whereby said spring can be ejected from said onesupport member and can contact said floor and thereby impart a force tosaid one support member which tends to rock it in a direction oppositeto said initial rocking motion,

whereby said spring moves back into said one support member and saidspring-biased slidable plate returns to hold said spring within said onesupport member, the return of said spring moving said cable in adirection opposite to said first direction whereby said first arm isreturned to its starting position.

1. Apparatus for imparting a rocking motion comprising a support memberadapted to be placed on a floor and having a curved surface whichproduces a rocking motion as it moves back and forth on the floor, afirst arm pivotally secured to said support member about a pivot pointand having one end extending beyond said curved surface of said supportmember so that it can contact said floor when an initial rocking motionis imparted to said support member, a spring secured to said supportmember and adapted to move in and out of said support member and havinga free end which can contact said floor as the spring moves out of saidsupport member, a cable secured to an inner portion of said first armand extending over a plurality of pulley wheels to the inner end of saidspring, rotation of said first arm applying a force to said cable in afirst direction tending to pull said spring out of said support member,a slidable plate engaging said free end of said spring and spring-biasedin a direction to block said spring and to retain it inside said supportmember, said plate being connected at one end to a second arm which ispivotally secured to said support member, the other end of said secondarm slidably engaging a third arm mounted within said support member andhaving a free end positioned to contact the floor, contacting of saidthird arm with said floor causing rotation of said third arm and saidsecond arm and sliding of said plate out of contact with said springwhereby said spring can be ejected from said support member and cancontact said floor and thereby impart a force to said support memberwhich tends to rock it in a direction opposite to said initial rockingmotion, whereby said spring moves back into said support member and saidspring-biased slidable plate rEturns to hold said spring within saidsupport member, the return of said spring moving said cable in adirection opposite to said first direction whereby said first arm isreturned to its starting position.
 2. The apparatus defined in claim 1wherein said third arm is positioned between said first arm and saidspring.
 3. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said support memberhas a vertical axis, and said first arm, said spring, said cable, saidslidable plate, said second arm, and said third arm are disposed on oneside of said vertical axis.
 4. The apparatus defined in claim 3 andhaving a duplicate of the parts of said apparatus including said firstarm, said spring, said cable, and said second and third arms disposed onthe other side of said vertical axis whereby a force can be applied tosaid support member when said support member rocks in two directions. 5.A crib device including a portion for supporting a body, front and rearsupport members each having a curved surface for supporting the crib ona floor and for imparting a rocking motion thereto, and mechanical meansdisposed within at least one support member for imparting a rockingmotion thereto, said mechanical means including a first arm pivotallysecured to said one support member about a pivot point and having oneend extending beyond said curved surface of said support member so thatit can contact said floor when an initial rocking motion is imparted tosaid one support member, a spring secured to said one support member andadapted to move in and out of said one support member and having a freeend which can contact said floor as the spring moves out of said onesupport member, a cable secured to an inner portion of said first armand extending over a plurality of pulley wheels to the inner end of saidspring, rotation of said first arm applying a force to said cable in afirst direction tending to pull said spring out of said one supportmember, a slidable plate engaging said free end of said spring andspring-biased in a direction to block said spring and to retain itinside said one support member, said plate being connected at one end toa second arm which is pivotally secured to said one support member, theother end of said second arm slidably engaging a third arm mountedwithin said one support member and having a free end positioned tocontact the floor, contacting of said third arm with said floor causingrotation of said third arm and said second arm and sliding of said plateout of contact with said spring whereby said spring can be ejected fromsaid one support member and can contact said floor and thereby impart aforce to said one support member which tends to rock it in a directionopposite to said initial rocking motion, whereby said spring moves backinto said one support member and said spring-biased slidable platereturns to hold said spring within said one support member, the returnof said spring moving said cable in a direction opposite to said firstdirection whereby said first arm is returned to its starting position.